Railway switch operating mechanism



G. MANZOLI RAILWAY SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM Aug", 18, 1931.

Filed Aug. 6, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l Fi 4. INVKEZI'OR Glvseppa Mnnzoll',

Aug. 18, 1931. a. MANZOLI 1,819,473

RAILWAY SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 6, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F i9". 5. F 1E9. (7'.

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Patented Aug. 18, 1931 warren. ssT ares :r Artur OFFICE GIUSEPPE 'MANZOLI, OF'TUR'IN, .ITAIJY, ASSIGNUR TO THE UNION SWITCH AND SIGNAL COMPANY; ,OF SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA RAIIFW'EY SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM Application filed August 6, 1829, Serial No. 38'3;897, and in Italy August 9, 1928.

This invention relates to railway points andthelike of the kind adapted to be trailed through and has for its object-to provide an improved construction of operating and g lockmgmechanisms for points-of thischaracter.

According to the principal feature of the invention thattongue of the points "which in ither setting of thepoints is in engagement with its corresponding stock rail-is arranged to-be positively locked in this;position and to be only unlocked by a predetermined displacement of the other tongue-of the points when the latter are being normally operated from one setting to the other, or are being similarly operated by beingtrailed through by a train or vehicle.

According to a further feature of the invention the tongues of the points are arranged tobe'mechanically connectedto their operating member by frictional couplings and in a ,preferred formof construction are connected to two sliding racks adapted to intermesh with corresponding pinions which are rotated by a common operating shaft through frictional couplings.

The inventionis illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings of which Figure 1 is a. view in sectional end elevation of one form of mechanism embodying the invention.

Figure 2.is a side view of shown in Figure 1. s

Figure 4 isa similar view ofthe other rack.

Figure?) is aplan 'view of the mechanism and Figure 5 is a similar view showing the nechanism connected to the tongues of the points.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 but illustrating the invention as applied to points of the kind in which the tonguesare coupled together.

Referring now to Figures 1 .to 5 inclusive it will be seen thatthermechanism illustrated comprises two .racks indicated at 1, 2 and adapted to slide within abase or body ,portion 3. Intermeshing with the racks 1, 2 are-corresponding pinions 4, 5 mounted loosely on an operating shaft 6. Each-of the racks 1, 2 is provided at each'end with similarly sitiu one of theracks ated recesses indicated at 7, 9 and 8, 10 respectively, the shape of the recess 8 being similar to that of the recess 9 and the shape the recess 7 being similar to that of the recess 10.. It will be *noted, that, as here shown,-the recesses 8 and'9 are tooth shaped, that isto say,=each of these recesses is formed with two parallel sides which are inclined away from the vertical at acute angles, as

best seen in Figs. 2 and 4. The recesses 7 and 10, however, are bevelled,.that is to say, each oftheselatter recesses is provided with twoinclined sides which slope away from the vertical at acute angles but in opposite directions. 7

On the shaft 6 is loosely mounted, a point lock element- 11 comprisinga cam segment '12 and acrosshead provided with two locking projections 13, 1 1. Each of these projections is cutaway at'onecorner of its inner face, that isto say,the face nearer-tothe shaft 6, the opposite corner of this face constituting a locking tooth while-the outer faces of the projections are bevelled as shown in Figures 2 and 4. It will be observed that in the case of the-locking projection 13, the lockingtooth-is found onthe upper side of the projection in the position shown while in the case of the locking projection 14 the tooth is found on the lower side and thus engages with the correspondingly formed tooth shaped recess 8 in the rack 2, the vother projection 18 engag ing with the bevelled-recess :7 in the rack 1.

Theoperating shaft 6 is-m-echanically coupled in any suitable manner to the member operating-the points whichis arranged to be actuated mechanically, electrically -or otherwise. The racks *1 and 2 are connected by ineans of rods -15 and 16 respectively to the corresponding tongues 17, 1S ofthe points. Thetransmission of-the rotational movement of the shaft 6 to the pinions 4 and 5 and therefore totheracks '1, 2 is efiected through frictional couplings constituted by dished washers and-discs-as clearly shown in Figure 1, from which it will be seen that the dished washers and certain. of the discs are rigidly secured -to the shaft 6 the other or antifriction discs being looselyinounte'd'on the shaft. It will also be observed that the point lock element 11 is also frictionally coupled to the shaft 6 in a similar manner. The base or body portion 3 is provided with a rocking lever 19 pivotally mounted thereon underneath the cam segment 12 of the element 11. The rocking lever 19 is pivotally coupled to a contact or drum commutator 20 provided with contact segments adapted to be engaged by fixed contact springs so as to effect electrical control of the position of the point lock element 11 and consequently of the tongues 17, 18. The mechanism by which the electric control of the point lock element 11 is effected forms no part of my present invention and is therefore not shown in the drawings.

The operation of the device is as follows:

Assume that the tongues 17', 18 of the points and the parts of the operating mechanism are in the position shown in Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5, corresponding to the setting of the points shown in Figure 5. In this position the tongue 17 is separated by the usual distance from its corresponding stock rail while the tongue 18 is closely in engagement with its stock rail. Under these conditions the tongue 18 is positively locked against move ment since the toothed portion of the locking projection 14 of the point lock element 11 is engaged in the corresponding toothed shaped recess 8 in the rack 2. The other tongue 17 which is connected with the rack 1 is however only secured frictionally in position since the corresponding cut-away corner of the locking projection 13 is engaged in the bevelled recess 7 in the rack 1. The lat ter is thus not positively locked in position but can be moved from the position shown against the frictional resistance of the coupling, which can evidently be arranged to have any desired value necessary to maintain the parts in position against accidental displacement. As pointed out hereinbefore, the position of the point lock element 11 is electrically controlled in the usual manner by the rocking lever 19 and the contact drum 20 so as to normally maintain the tongues 17, 18 in this position. If a train or vehicle now ap proaches the points in the trailing direction the tongue 17 is first displaced by the wheels of the vehicle towards the opposite setting of the points and is thus moved towards its corresponding stock rail. This movement of the tongue 17 is permitted against frictional resistance since the corresponding rack l'is not positively locked.

The consequent movement of the rack 1 causes the locking projection 13 to ride out of the bevelled recess 7 in the rack 1 thereby causing a corresponding movement of the point lock element 11 and of the other locking projection 14: which is thus positively raised out of the toothed recess 8 in the rack 2. The latter is thus unlocked and the corresponding tongue 18 of the points is thus free to be displaced under the action of the Wheels of the train or vehicle which is thus enabled to trail through the points thereby reversing the setting of the points. It will be understood that the movement of the racks 1, 2 during the reversal of the points causes the corresponding rotation of the pinions at, 5 which in turn through the frictional couplings effects a corresponding rotation of the point lock element 11, to its opposite position in which the locking projection 14 engages in the bevelled recess 10 in the rack 2, and the locking projection 13 engages in the toothed recess 9 in the rack 1. The rack 1 is then locked against movement, thereby positively locking the tongue 17 of the points in its new position.

It will thus be evident that the mechanism permits the points to be trailed through without injury to or breakage of any of the parts of the mechanism. of the rack 1 and of the point lock element 11 has begun, the rocking lever 19 is caused by means of the cam segment 12 to be displaced so as to release the electric control of the point lock element 11, which in turn, permits the necessary movement of the points and tongues, this control, owing to the special shape of the rocking lever 19, being only reestablished when the point lock element has definitively assumed its reversed position The mechanism operates in a similar manner to that above described when the reversal of the points is effected from the point of control instead of by the passage of a train or vehicle. tated and this rotation is frictionally transmitted to the pinion 4L and thence to the rack 1 which accordingly begins to move to its reversed position. The initial movement of the rack 1 causes the locking projection 13 to ride out of the recess 7 and thereby disengage the locking projection 14 from the recess 8 whereupon the rack 2 begins its movement under the action of the frictionally driven pinion 4. As soon as the movement of the i rack 1 has brought thetongue 17 firmly into engagement with its stock rail the movement of the rack 1.is arrested thereby, but the other rack 2 continues its movement until a projection 21 formed thereon engages with the base 3, by which time the locking projection lt has entered the recess 10 and caused thelocking projection 13 to enter the toothed recess 9 so as positively to lock the tongue 17 in engagement with its stock rail.

This action is, as will be evident, due to the racks 1, 2 being capable of movement independently of each other by the provision of the frictional couplings on the shaft 6.

It will be noted that after the tongue 17 has been actually arrested in its movement by contact with the stock rail, the tongue tends to continue the, movement thus exerting a pressure on the stock rail itself, while when the movement of both tongues has been As soon as the movement In this case the shaft 6 is ro- 1 msieazs completed, the rotation of the point lock element 11 owing to the frictional coupling continues until the tooth shaped portion of the locking projection 13 and the projection 14 have entered the recesses 9 and 10 respectively.

It will thus be seen that, as stated above, the tongue 17 is not only positively locked but is also firmly pressed against its stockrail. On the other hand, the tongue 18 is not positively locked but is only held in position by the resistance of the frictional coupling which, being adjustable as desired, permits its release without any breakage or deformation of the parts of the mechanism under a stress the value of which can be determined.

The same mechanism can also be employed for the operation of points with coupled tongues as shown in Figure 6, the two racks 1 and 2 being connected together by a sleeve 22 connected to a rod 23. In this case the two racks 1, 2 must necessarily move together, and when the points are trailed through, the hooked portion of the locking projection 14 which is at the time in engagement with the toothed recess in the rack is physically broken off, after which the parts operate in the manner above described. It will be apparent, of course, that when the locking projection ll has been physically broken off, it will be necessary to provide the mechanism with a new locking element 11 before the points can a 'ain be locked in the positions in which they are shown in Fig. 6. It will be understood that the construction and arrangements above described and illustrated only represent one form of the invention, and variations and modifications thereof may be made in manv respects without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Lettors Patent, is

1. In combination with a railway switch comprising two movable tongues and two stock rails, a driving member, means including friction couplings for connecting said member with said tongues for operating the switch, locking means effective when either said tongue is in engagement with the corresponding stocl: rail to lock such tongue, and means controlled by the other tongue and operating when such other tongue is actuated to' release said locking means.

2. In combination with a railway switch comprising two movable tongues and two stock rails, an operating shaft, two pinions, means including friction couplings for connecting said pinions with said. shaft, two rack bars meshing with said pinions respectively and one connected with each said tongue, locking means effective when either said tongue engages the corresponding stock rail to lock the associated rack bar, and means responsive to:movementiofdhe unlocked rack bfilitOiIGlQflSG saidlockingmeans.

3. -'I.-n combination with a. zrailway :switch comprising two 'movable tongues :and two SllOCkilfiilS iLIl OPQIflblIll', shaft, two ,pinions, means including friction couplings :for connecting-said pinions'with said shaft,-two rack bars meshing with said -.pinions respectively and :onemonnected withieach said tongue, 21 locking:.element,:means includingsaidifriction couplings for -.connecting :said element with said pinions, and means oneach said rack barfor engagingsaidlocking element when theassociateditongue 'engagesrthe corresponding rtrack rail.

4. In combination with a railway switch comprising itwo movable tongues and two stock :rails, an operating shaft, "two pinions, means including :friction :couplings for conneoting said 'pinions with said shaft, two

rack bars each provided with a locking recess and each meshing with one of said pinvions and connected with one of saidtongues, a locking element, means including said friction couplings 'foriconnecting said element with said pinions, and means on said locking element for engaging the recess in one of said rack bars when the associated tongue engages the corresponding stock rail.

5v In combination with a railway switch comprising two movable tongues and two stock rails, a driving member, means including friction couplings for connecting said member with said tongues for operating the switch, locking means effective when either said tongue is in engagement with the corresponding stock rail to lock such tongue, means controlled by the other tongue and operating'when such other tongue is actuated to release said locking means, and a circuit controller operated by said locking means.

6, In combination with a railway switch comprising two movable tongues and two stock rails, an operating shaft, two pinions, means including friction couplings for connecting said pinions with said shaft, two rack bars meshing with said pinions respectively and one connected with each said tongue, a locking element, means including said friction couplings for connecting said element with said pinions, means on each said rack bar for engaging said locking element when the associated tongue engages the corresponding track rail, a circuit controller, and means controlled by said locking element for operating said circuit controller.

7. In combination with a railway switch comprising two movable tongues and two stock rails, an operating shaft, two pinions, means including friction couplings for connecting said pinions with said shaft, two rack with said pinions, means on each said rack bar for engaging said locking element when the associated tongue engages the corresponding track rail, a cam driven by said locking element, and a circuit controller operated by said cam.

8. In combination with a railway switch comprising two movable tongues and two stock rails, an operating shaft, two pinions, means including friction couplings for connecting said pinions with said-shaft, two rack bars meshing with said pinions respectively and one connected witheach said tongue, a locking element, means including said friction couplings for connecting said element with said pinions means on each said rack bar for engaging said locking element when the associated tongue engages the corresponding track rail, a cam driven by said locking element, a rocking lever controlled by said cam, and a circuit controller operated by said rocking lever.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

GIUSEPPE MANZOLI. 

